A sudden trepidation overcame Edgeworth, and he mentally chastised himself for the slip. Whatever Wright was prepared to say, the conversation was likely to turn in a direction he had no desire to tread, with or without Larry's unwelcome presence.

...Perhaps not so unwelcome. Edgeworth relaxed back into his chair as Wright backed down. He glanced at Larry, for once grateful for his (occasionally obnoxious and generally extraneous) company, then let his gaze drift to the tabletop.